I was struck by an article I read recently. It was a man recounting his move to Hawaii at age thirteen. This was back in the 1960’s. The moment his family arrived at their new home, a cottage near the beach, he ran off, surfboard in hand to test the sea. Thirteen? Surfing without adult supervision? It seems few children in the U.S. and elsewhere experience that kind of freedom today.

I was well into adulthood when I heard the words,”play date” placed together and inquired the meaning: Parents organize the place and time for their children to play. This was an entirely new concept for me.

I had a curfew as a child and there were certainly things I was not allowed to do, but within these boundaries the days were mine. My best friend and I spent untold hours riding our bicycles discovering, exploring, venturing out on our own. There was no telephone to be tethered to and our judgement guided the way.

Are children safer today? Do they venture into unknowns with confidence? Can they plan and fill their own day?

Are certain attempts for their safety coming with a price too high?